Two University of St. Thomas Music Preparatory School students faced rigorous auditions, applications and interviews and emerged triumphantly with acceptance to the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, a prestigious summer training program for aspiring high school-age musicians. The summer camp will take place in Lenox, Mass., home of the Boston Symphony, from July 13-Aug. 10.

Andrew Lavelle, of the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and Tal McGee, of Espirit High School, are both violists and received scholarships to attend the summer training program.

"These are amazing musicians on the level of the best university music majors in the country and they are still in high school,” Paul Krystofiak, Director of the Music Preparatory School, said. “I am very proud that we have this level of student in our preparatory school. We are growing rapidly through word-of-mouth concerning our stellar faculty and students.”

Lavelle and McGee have attended MPS for two years and are members of the MPS orchestra, chamber music and the summer Vivaldi Institute, in addition to private lessons. Both are currently studying viola with violist Dawson White.

“I wish we could keep them all here for our own MPS summer programs, but it is a privilege to challenge them to the highest standards possible and gain even more knowledge from additional international artists,” Krystofiak said.

The Boston University Tanglewood Institute accepts a select group of gifted high school musicians each summer and includes students from as far away as Europe, South America and Australia. Many of its alumni have gone on to illustrious careers in classical music, including dozens that perform in the top orchestras in the country.

“Summer music programs can be life-changing for a young musician,” Krystofiak said.

UST Music Preparatory School offers summer camps and private lessons for students interested in furthering their abilities. For more information on the MPS summer programs, contact Paul Krystofiak at krystop@stthom.edu.

University of St. Thomas
The University of St. Thomas, dedicated to educating leaders of faith and character, is a private institution committed to the liberal arts and to the religious, ethical and intellectual tradition of Catholic higher education. St. Thomas is Houston’s only Catholic University and was founded by the Basilian Fathers in 1947.